The Running Thread Vol 2

[johnwilliams77]

ukaskew said:

I mentioned this in the parkrun thread but I completed my first 10k race yesterday (and it was cross country with a particularly nasty field to cross near the end), 55:28, 58th out of 112. Aside from parkrun I've only ever run 4 miles and more recently 6 miles (1:05 minutes) on my own, so I'm thrilled with that as I was secretly hoping to go sub 60 minutes. The course record is 37 minutes.

I found 10k quite a bit more enjoyable (and easier) than trying to gradually improve my parkrun time, interestingly enough. My parkrun has gone from 35 to 25 minutes in 15 attempts with varying levels of effort midweek (rarely more than 2 three mile runs), but I pretty much breezed around the 10k and felt fine after.

It was a big step from me going from absolutely nothing in April, to what is now the relative comfort of parkrun, to a race in the space of 6 months. To be honest I expected lots of pros, a far more serious attitude and for me to be right at the back, but the reality was much nicer and for the first time ever (I'm a loan runner) I ended up chatting to a few people during the run (which made the time fly by).

So, if you're a parkrunner and fancy something different, give 10k a shot, you've got nothing to lose and everyone is super-supportive.

And if you can do a 10km you can do a half marathon with a little more effort!

[RizzoTheRat]

johnwilliams77 said:

And if you can do a 10km you can do a half marathon with a little more effort!

My wife keeps trying to persuade me that and so far I've succeed in dissuading her. I was half expecting her just to enter me in the Farnborough half, as I was away when entries opened, and then get in a strop when I didn't run it

[ukaskew]

johnwilliams77 said:

And if you can do a 10km you can do a half marathon with a little more effort!

Already signed up for the Bath Half!

Does that progression continue? i.e. is the next distance up always just a natural step further that doesn't seem completely unobtainable, or does it really ramp up? After the 10k I could probably have run another couple of miles (just), so the half feels in reach.

The biggest issue for me is time, I'm already having to go out at 9 or 10pm on a weekday or 6am on a Sunday just to get the miles in as it is. With a 2 year old who doesn't believe in sleep that's barely leaving me with 4-5 hours sleep some nights, which in terms of my body is probably undoing some of effort I'm putting in!

[Foliage]

The jiffle king said:

Foliage said:

Sprained my ankle last Thursday, its still swollen and a little painful but also itch's. Ive got a half marathon in 2 and a half weeks whats the chances of me being able to do it?

Very difficult to say, but I would rest up as much as possible, and decide 3 days before. I'd expect that you could make it round as the training part is done and you're into taper.... just your taper is quite severe.
Hope you can make it, but it's touch and go!

I've now less than a week to go before the event haven't ran in nearly 3 weeks or any other exercise for that matter, im worried about my breathing, im going to try a tentative 3km tonight on a treadmill to see if my ankle and lunges can take it, it feels fine today, swelling and bruising has gone, it just feels tight. Im still hoping I can do it on Sunday.

My plan if all is good tonight is 3km Wednesday then 1km early on Saturday to loosen up, so a traditional taper strategy, but with the addition that I can see how my ankle feels.

Thoughts?

[Tycho]

ukaskew said:

johnwilliams77 said:

And if you can do a 10km you can do a half marathon with a little more effort!

Already signed up for the Bath Half!

Does that progression continue? i.e. is the next distance up always just a natural step further that doesn't seem completely unobtainable, or does it really ramp up? After the 10k I could probably have run another couple of miles (just), so the half feels in reach.

The biggest issue for me is time, I'm already having to go out at 9 or 10pm on a weekday or 6am on a Sunday just to get the miles in as it is. With a 2 year old who doesn't believe in sleep that's barely leaving me with 4-5 hours sleep some nights, which in terms of my body is probably undoing some of effort I'm putting in!

IMO the step from 1/2 to full marathon is the biggest mentally and not just physically. However, I firmly believe that anyone who follows a decent plan and isn't completely unrealistic about times can make that step. It really is just about gradual progress. When you do a long run greater than 13 miles every week for a while when marathon training then a half feels like an easy distance as your brain re-calibrates what you can do.

If it is something you want to do then get a good online plan and go for it. There are worse things in this world than a DNF and you are better than most if you get to the start line.

[Smitters]

ukaskew said:

Already signed up for the Bath Half!

Does that progression continue? i.e. is the next distance up always just a natural step further that doesn't seem completely unobtainable, or does it really ramp up? After the 10k I could probably have run another couple of miles (just), so the half feels in reach.

The biggest issue for me is time, I'm already having to go out at 9 or 10pm on a weekday or 6am on a Sunday just to get the miles in as it is. With a 2 year old who doesn't believe in sleep that's barely leaving me with 4-5 hours sleep some nights, which in terms of my body is probably undoing some of effort I'm putting in!

As a fellow father to a 2yo, I would say do as much running as keeps you happy. It's all well and good doing a half or a marathon, but if it's taking away from family time/making the OH's life harder, I wouldn't do it (or indeed, do it again - ask me how I figured this out...! Ooops). Wait until junior is a bit more settled and then up the distance and in the mean time get some consistency. Just running three times week, every week does wonders and the more consistency you build, the easier it is to push up the distances in the future.

Or, a running buggy and take junior with you. Mine comes on our parkrun and enjoys the outing and the OH enjoys the lie in!

[Tycho]

Just got my London commiseration magazine although it did include quite a nice training top as well. Anyway I'm thinking of doing Brighton instead as it is meant to be quite a good pb course.

[ukaskew]

Smitters said:

As a fellow father to a 2yo, I would say do as much running as keeps you happy. It's all well and good doing a half or a marathon, but if it's taking away from family time/making the OH's life harder, I wouldn't do it

He's asleep 90% of the time I go running so it's fine in terms of that side of things. Parkrun + a couple of night runs is working well now and has got me to 10k no bother, but I do worry about nearer the half when I really need to ramp the mileage up a bit more.

Might look into running at lunchtimes at work, we have showers so it's a viable option.

[The jiffle king]

ukaskew .... It's addictive and it's clearly something you are enjoying. I find sleep quality improves the more I exercise, so 4-5 hours might be enough if it's good quality sleep

Foliage - That's a heck of a taper, but if it feels good tonight, then I would do 5k on Wednesday and 3k on Friday then race Sunday... good luck

[Parabola]

Have been unsuccessfully applying for a London Marathon place the last few years.

Finally got a place this time... the same winter we have our first baby due and our first house (That also needs a full renovation!)

I think I'll defer to 2018!

Haven't had an email yet from them, and can't see anywhere how much I need to pay?!

[markh1973]

Tycho said:

Just got my London commiseration magazine although it did include quite a nice training top as well. Anyway I'm thinking of doing Brighton instead as it is meant to be quite a good pb course.

Brighton is a good race - there's a soul destroying section around 18-20 miles out towards the power station but it's not too bad.

I have a Brighton place but have mistakenly booked a week in the Lakes so won't be running it.

I also have my reject's training top - will see if I can get a place in the club ballot.

[egor110]

markh1973 said:

Tycho said:

Just got my London commiseration magazine although it did include quite a nice training top as well. Anyway I'm thinking of doing Brighton instead as it is meant to be quite a good pb course.

Brighton is a good race - there's a soul destroying section around 18-20 miles out towards the power station but it's not too bad.

I have a Brighton place but have mistakenly booked a week in the Lakes so won't be running it.

I also have my reject's training top - will see if I can get a place in the club ballot.

Bah , come down to Devon and do the ex to axe.

20 miles , over 3000ft of climbing along the coast path between Exmouth and Seaton.

[jamest1988]

Parabola said:

Have been unsuccessfully applying for a London Marathon place the last few years.

Finally got a place this time... the same winter we have our first baby due and our first house (That also needs a full renovation!)

I think I'll defer to 2018!

Haven't had an email yet from them, and can't see anywhere how much I need to pay?!

Can I ask how you know you have a place without getting an email? I only ask because I've applied and know a few people have got the "better luck next year" magazine and I'm still waiting for mine, no news via email yet either.
thanks!

[Tycho]

egor110 said:

markh1973 said:

Tycho said:

Just got my London commiseration magazine although it did include quite a nice training top as well. Anyway I'm thinking of doing Brighton instead as it is meant to be quite a good pb course.

Brighton is a good race - there's a soul destroying section around 18-20 miles out towards the power station but it's not too bad.

I have a Brighton place but have mistakenly booked a week in the Lakes so won't be running it.

I also have my reject's training top - will see if I can get a place in the club ballot.

Bah , come down to Devon and do the ex to axe.

20 miles , over 3000ft of climbing along the coast path between Exmouth and Seaton.

I did the Purbeck a couple of weeks ago which is 27 miles with 3700ft of ascent so I'm looking for a PB course now...

[princeperch]

jamest1988 said:

Parabola said:

Have been unsuccessfully applying for a London Marathon place the last few years.

Finally got a place this time... the same winter we have our first baby due and our first house (That also needs a full renovation!)

I think I'll defer to 2018!

Haven't had an email yet from them, and can't see anywhere how much I need to pay?!

Can I ask how you know you have a place without getting an email? I only ask because I've applied and know a few people have got the "better luck next year" magazine and I'm still waiting for mine, no news via email yet either.
thanks!

click on unsubscribe on the latest email they sent u

if you are unsuccessful it will say something like " you are subscribed to the unsuccessful E-zine" or something like that

[jamest1988]

princeperch said:

click on unsubscribe on the latest email they sent u

if you are unsuccessful it will say something like " you are subscribed to the unsuccessful E-zine" or something like that

thanks! tried it and found "VMLM 2017 unsuccessful notification" as one of the subscriptions. ah well, better luck next year.

[markh1973]

Tycho said:

egor110 said:

markh1973 said:

Tycho said:

Just got my London commiseration magazine although it did include quite a nice training top as well. Anyway I'm thinking of doing Brighton instead as it is meant to be quite a good pb course.

Brighton is a good race - there's a soul destroying section around 18-20 miles out towards the power station but it's not too bad.

I have a Brighton place but have mistakenly booked a week in the Lakes so won't be running it.

I also have my reject's training top - will see if I can get a place in the club ballot.

Bah , come down to Devon and do the ex to axe.

20 miles , over 3000ft of climbing along the coast path between Exmouth and Seaton.

I did the Purbeck a couple of weeks ago which is 27 miles with 3700ft of ascent so I'm looking for a PB course now...

Compared to Purbeck most things will take less time even Beachy Head. Think Brighton entries may be closed now - Manchester is similar time of year and a good PB course according to friends who ran Brighton, London and Manchester last year.

[KTF]

Parabola said:

Have been unsuccessfully applying for a London Marathon place the last few years.

Finally got a place this time... the same winter we have our first baby due and our first house (That also needs a full renovation!)

I think I'll defer to 2018!

Haven't had an email yet from them, and can't see anywhere how much I need to pay?!

The letter that comes with the magazine should have the details of where to go to pay.

[egor110]

Arse. Didn't get a London place.

[Tycho]

markh1973 said:

Compared to Purbeck most things will take less time even Beachy Head. Think Brighton entries may be closed now - Manchester is similar time of year and a good PB course according to friends who ran Brighton, London and Manchester last year.

I've just spotted that Brighton has another load of places which they are going to release soon so have registered interest.